“This way.” Hone saw Cassie had planned ahead and a pile of fresh towels sat on the vanity counter. He started the shower and nudged his cousin toward it. “I’ll find you something to wear.”
Half an hour later, when Hone walked into the kitchen, Manu was sound asleep in the lounge, a lightweight blanket over him.
Jack and Cassie were sitting at the kitchen counter, each with a drink in hand. Whisky by the smell.
“Emma sleeping?”
“Yeah. I put our healing salve on her burns. She said she was okay and told me not to fuss.” Jack choked up, and Hone got it. He felt the same way about Cassie.
“I’m sorry,” Hone said. “You’re gonna be a father.”
“Yeah,” Jack said. “I never thought I would.”
“You should have told us.” Cassie gulped. “You and Emma—you p-protected me. You risked everything. For me.”
Hone reached for one of Cassie’s hands and fitted their fingers together. She didn’t pull away and relief flooded him. His otherness might not be a problem. “And for me,” he said.
“You would have done the same for us. Both of you,” Jack added. “Don’t deny it.”
“But your baby…” Cassie trailed off, her eyes bright with unshed tears. “And Manu…h-he…I—” She broke off and swallowed hard. “You could have lost everything.”
“It was the right thing to do,” Jack said. “I…we would make the same decision again.”
Cassie turned to him. “Want a whisky?”
“Sure.”
Cassie stood to get another glass from the cupboard. She scooped up the bottle of whisky and after filling his glass, she placed it at her elbow. “So, dragons. Were you going to tell me anytime soon?”
Jack downed his drink and set the empty glass on the counter. “I’ll leave you to it.”
Cassie waited until Jack had disappeared before she let loose her curiosity. “How do you become a dragon?”
“Taniwha. We’re born this way.”
“All the myths and legends about taniwha are true? I thought they were part of Maori folk tales.”
“Every myth or legend starts with a hint of truth.”
“How many of you are there? Is Jack one? Emma wasn’t surprised. She knew. How come you didn’t tell me?” The questions poured from her quick and fast. “What about children? If Jack is a dragon…um…taniwha, will their baby be one? Do you howl at the moon or anything? Wait. Are werewolves and vampires real?”
Hone suppressed a flash of humor. “Jack is a water taniwha. He is in his element in the water. His shift is different from ours in that he’s stuck in his form for a longer time before he returns to human. My family and relations are the flying, fire-breathing type. Like werewolves, we are ruled by the moon. We become highly sexual at full moon and to keep our human shape, we need a lot of sex at that time of the month. If we don’t, we’re forced to shift, a problem in these modern days.” Hone paused to sip his whisky. “Emma and Jack’s baby will have taniwha genes. From what I’ve learned, it depends. Some half-taniwha can shift. Others can’t.”
“Have you met any vampires? Any werewolves?”
“There are a few vampires around, but not many because of New Zealand’s small population. Werewolves, yes. Feline shapeshifters too.”
“Wow.” She rubbed her hands together in excitement. “Just wow!”
“You can’t tell anyone, Cassie.”
She prickled like a hedgehog. “I wouldn’t. I won’t. You’re my friends.”
“I want to be more than a friend, Cassie. I wasn’t kidding earlier. I love you.”
“I…oh.” Pink colored her cheeks.
“I don’t want you to leave.”
“We haven’t known each other for long.”
“No, but once a taniwha develops feelings, he or she is unwavering. My dragon considers you our mate. I haven’t looked at another woman since I met you. I wouldn’t. I’m not interested in anyone but you. You complete me.”
“Oh, Hone.”
Hone moved before his brain issued the order. He jerked her into his arms and held her tight. “I thought I was going to lose you.”
